Expression profiling of giant cells induced in host plant roots by root-knot nematodes. Root-knot nematodes cause crop losses of over $400 million per annum in Australia. Control by toxic chemical nematicodes is expensive and can pollute groundwater. Benefits from this research for the Australian community are: (i) it will ensure that Australian researchers stay at the forefront of research in plant nematology, (ii) it provides significant local and international linkages that will stimulate res ....Expression profiling of giant cells induced in host plant roots by root-knot nematodes. Root-knot nematodes cause crop losses of over $400 million per annum in Australia. Control by toxic chemical nematicodes is expensive and can pollute groundwater. Benefits from this research for the Australian community are: (i) it will ensure that Australian researchers stay at the forefront of research in plant nematology, (ii) it provides significant local and international linkages that will stimulate research outputs, and (iii) new knowledge will be generated on how plants respond to attack by nematodes - this will generate new intellectual property, leading to better control methods and reduced costs that will support rural communities, and reduce environmental pollution.Read moreRead less
Factors responsible for host resistance to the pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum for developing effective disease management in vegetable brassicas. Through successful identification of host resistance in vegetable Brassicas to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and determining the factors associated with this resistance, breeders, for the first time, will be able to develop varieties with resistance against this difficult-to-manage pathogen. Benefits include prevention of severe losses in vegetable Bras ....Factors responsible for host resistance to the pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum for developing effective disease management in vegetable brassicas. Through successful identification of host resistance in vegetable Brassicas to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and determining the factors associated with this resistance, breeders, for the first time, will be able to develop varieties with resistance against this difficult-to-manage pathogen. Benefits include prevention of severe losses in vegetable Brassicas from Sclerotinia, and more viable and sustainable production with less reliance upon fungicides and toxic or ineffective fumigants. This research addresses the National Research Priority, an environmentally sustainable Australia, and the priority goal transforming existing industries, and will particularly benefit Australian horticultural communities.Read moreRead less
Isolation and characterization of cell signalling systems that activate or suppress apoptosis in pathogenic and symbiotic fungal:plant interactions. The key roles of programmed cell death (PCD) in plant disease are becoming apparent. This project will test the hypotheses that successful colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizae in plant roots requires the plant to up-regulate inhibitors of PCD; that susceptibility in plants to necrotrophic fungal pathogens requires triggering of PCD; and that resis ....Isolation and characterization of cell signalling systems that activate or suppress apoptosis in pathogenic and symbiotic fungal:plant interactions. The key roles of programmed cell death (PCD) in plant disease are becoming apparent. This project will test the hypotheses that successful colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizae in plant roots requires the plant to up-regulate inhibitors of PCD; that susceptibility in plants to necrotrophic fungal pathogens requires triggering of PCD; and that resistance is the result of activation of inhibitors of PCD. This international project will have important implications biologically and economically for control of plant disease and symbiosis, will train early career researchers in an area of international expertise and will strengthen collaboration between the US and Australian research groupRead moreRead less